Dhaka, April 18 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has described the failure of the previous two governments to ensure measles vaccination for children as an "unforgivable crime", saying the current administration's emergency response has helped contain further deterioration in the situation.

Speaking at a conference of Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers (UHFPOs) at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, he said urgent nationwide vaccination efforts had been launched to prevent a repeat of the crisis.

"The life-destroying failure of the last two immediate governments to ensure measles vaccination for children across the country appears to be an unforgivable crime," Tarique said.

"So that such an incident never happens again, the c...